ROCKFORD — Campaign season is underway in Illinois as upcoming congressional, state and local races have started to take shape.

Monday was the first day candidates could file their nomination petitions for the March 18 primary election. The deadline for candidates to be included on the ballot is Dec. 2.

Those who turn in their petitions first get their name listed in the first ballot position. It’s an enviable spot because of the “primacy effect” in elections, the tendency for candidates to attract more votes simply by having their name listed first. A lottery drawing is held for candidates who file petitions at the same time to determine who gets the first position.

Statewide races

Democratic incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn and four Republican challengers were among nearly 400 politicians who submitted nominating petitions on the first day of filing.

Hoping to replace Quinn as the first GOP governor in more than a decade are state Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard, venture capitalist Bruce Rauner and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford. Tio Hardiman of Hillside, the former head of anti-violence nonprofit CeaseFire, also filed to run in the Democratic primary against Quinn, who’s been governor since 2009.

Two Republicans filed petitions for the right to challenge U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat who is seeking his fourth term. State Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, and businessman Doug Truax of Downers Grove submitted nominating petitions.

All nine candidates for the top-of-the-ticket races were represented at the head of the line when the doors of the State Board of Elections in Springfield opened at 8 a.m. That means they qualify for a lottery drawing to determine who, in their respective primaries, will be listed first on the ballot, said Rupert Borgsmiller, elections board executive director.

Of the roughly 380 candidates who filed Monday, most had the same idea, lining up in the early morning hours to get a crack at the top ballot listing.

Congressional races

Rockford Tea Party coordinator David Hale filed to challenge Congressman Adam Kinzinger for the Republican nomination in the 16th Congressional District.

Former congressman Bobby Schilling of Colona filed to set up a rematch with U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, who unseated the one-term congressman in 2012. Schilling would first square off in the Republican primary against Rock Island attorney Eric Reyes. Reyes attempted to run as an independent last year, but was removed from the ballot after the Board of Elections sustained a challenge that he did not collect enough signatures. Portions of Rockford are in both the 16th and 17th districts.

Winnebago County Sheriff: Democratic hopefuls Jeffrey Schroeder of Rockford, Bob Redmond of Rockford and Randy Olson of Pecatonica each filed Monday along with Republican Gary Caruana. A lottery to be held Dec. 3 will determine which Democrat gets first position on the primary ballot.

District 1: Republicans Sherry Giesecke and Raymond Larson. Giesecke filed first, so her name will be placed at the top of the ballot. There are two seats open, each for a four-year term.

District 2: Republicans Jeffrey Carlisle, Ron Wait and Karl Johnson. These three individuals filed their candidacy papers at the same time, so there will be a lottery drawing to determine whose name will be placed at the top of the ballot. There are two seats open, each for a four-year term.

District 3: Republicans Sherry Branson, Marion Thornberry and Chris Berner. Branson filed first, so her name will be placed at the top of the ballot. There are two seats open for four-year terms, one for a two-year term.

Boone County Sheriff: Republicans Phil Beu and Dave Ernest. Both filed their candidacy papers at the same time, so there will be a lottery drawing to determine whose name will be placed at the top of the ballot. There is a single seat open for a four-year term.

Boone County Treasurer: Republican Curt Newport. There is a single seat open for a four-year term.

Boone County Clerk and Recorder: Republican Mary Steurer. There is a single seat open for a four-year term.